Michael Novak was born in Los Angeles, and lived in New York City for ten years before moving to Portland in 2007—officially placing him in the category of “person most despised by native-born Portlanders.” Over a 20-year career, he’s been an editorial Art Director at Time Warner and Portland Monthly, as well as an illustrator, designer, animator, and storyboard artist. 

The highlight of Mike’s brief animation career was a year-long stint as a character layout animator on the Fox show King of The Hill, before he decided that drawing Hank Hill all day long was pretty damn boring. After the act of sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring put the kibosh on his freelance illustration career, he discovered design, which he loves.

His duties at Portland Monthly consist of making the magazine look and read awesomely, by designing covers, features, and pretty much anything else. In his free time he likes to sleep.

Lunch

15 Places to Grab Lunch in Portland

Trouble finding the perfect place to “do lunch"? From Lebanese standbys to classic sushi, here’s a list of some of our favorite lunch spots across the city.

03/15/2023 By Matthew Trueherz

Soccer

Portland Soccer at a Crossroads for Timbers and Thorns Fans

As the scandals pile up and a sale looms for the once-heralded sports organization, what’s next for the fans who love the players and the game?

02/25/2023 By Sam Stites

Recipe

Make Café Olli’s Dungeness Crab, Green Garlic, and Meyer Lemon Pasta

The Northeast Portland bakery and pizza destination lets seasonal ingredients shine.

02/13/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton Photography by Michael Novak

Gift Guide

Valentine's Gift Guide: Last-Minute Presents to Find Close to Home

Ideas for your sweetie from every Portland quadrant, from vegan doughnuts in Hollywood to pain pillows in Multnomah Village to hand hooks in the Pearl

02/10/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Dining Guide

Portland’s Most Romantic, Date-Worthy Restaurants

Planning a date with that special someone? Peep this list first.

02/01/2023 By Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton, and Matthew Trueherz

Dining Picks

Where to Get Lunar New Year Dishes & Treats in Portland

From bánh tét to nian gao, mark the holiday with dumplings, noodles, and more from Vietnam, Korea, China, and beyond.

01/18/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Restaurant Closures

Malka, the Wonderfully Imaginative House-Turned-Restaurant on SE Division Street, Will Close

Chef and co-owner Jessie Aron says the Southeast Portland restaurant's last day of service will be February 26.

01/17/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Best Restaurants

Portland’s Top 50 Restaurants

The legends, new voices, and mad-scientist ideas that make Portland a strange and wonderful food city.

12/19/2022 By Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton, and Matthew Trueherz

Food News

Sunshine Noodles, Diane Lam’s Contemporary Cambodian Restaurant, Will Close December 18

Sunshine Noodles started out as a pop-up and grew into a Slabtown restaurant beloved for dishes like phnom penh noodles and lime pepper chicken wings.

12/09/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Best Restaurants 2022

PoMo Food Writer Matthew Trueherz’s Insider Picks

What do the magazine’s food writers eat at Portland restaurants when they're off duty? Classic sushi, straightforward pho, serious sandwiches, and more.

12/05/2022 By Matthew Trueherz

Recipe

Make Shop Halo Halo’s Bright Purple Ube Crinkle Cookies

Move over, chocolate mint—purple yam jam is here, starring in this cookie recipe courtesy of a Filipino dessert pop-up in Portland.

12/01/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton Photography by Michael Novak

Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Ideas: Small in Size, Big in Spirit

From airpods to earrings to dog toys, these local treasures prove a little goes a long way.

11/24/2022 Photography by Michael Novak By Dalila Brent

Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Ideas for Portlanders Who Love to Travel and Get Outdoors

From sunglasses to satchels, equip the adventurers in your life with the goods they need to go the distance.

11/23/2022 By Dalila Brent Photography by Michael Novak

Shoe Gazing

Beyond Nike and Adidas: Shoes Are Big Business in Portland

A totally cosmic look at the brightest stars—and the up-and-comers—in our local sneaker industry’s footwear firmament.

11/22/2022 By Julia Silverman

Best Restaurants 2022

At Bar Cala, It’s Summer 365 Days a Year

The millennial-pink stucco castle is basically a $14 flight to the tropics.

11/22/2022 By Matthew Trueherz Photography by Michael Novak

Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Ideas for Portland Homes

Make an impression this holiday by thinking outside the box, and inside our local community, with these Oregon finds.

11/22/2022 Photography by Michael Novak By Dalila Brent

Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Ideas for Portland Foodies

Chocolate, coffee, chunky mugs, and sharp knives—you can't go wrong with these local kitchen finds.

11/21/2022 By Dalila Brent Photography by Michael Novak

Real Estate

As Temperatures Drop, the Real Estate Market Is Cooling Down, Too

Median prices keep creeping up compared to past years, but home sales in the Portland metro area are slowing down in a steeper version of the usual seasonal slump.

11/09/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Election 2022

Many Oregonians Still Have Their Ballot Sitting on the Kitchen Table

Oregon voter turnout lower than in expected on the day before the election, even in Portland and Multnomah County. Maybe it's the Damian Lillard effect?

11/07/2022 By Sam Stites

Photo Essay

Portland Is One of America's Great Moviegoing Towns

The Rose City is overflowing with ornate, independent movie houses. We zeroed in on 7.

11/01/2022 By Conner Reed Photography by Michael Novak